Vibration Motor

ABSTRACT

A vibration motor includes a fixed member, a vibration unit, and an elastic member. The fixed member includes a housing having a receiving space and a coil received in the receiving space and assembled with the housing. The vibration unit includes a first weight, a second weight, and a magnet sandwiched by the first and second weights. The motor further includes a positioning guiding member including a first weight guiding rail, a second weight guiding rail, a first base guiding rail formed on the bottom wall, a second base guiding rail formed on the bottom wall, a first movement rail formed by the first weight guiding rail and the first base guiding rail, a second movement rail formed by the second weight guiding rail and the second base guiding rail, and a plurality of rolling members accommodated in the first movement rail and the second movement rail.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to vibration motors, and moreparticularly to a vibration motor used in a portable consumer electronicdevice.

BACKGROUND

With the development of the electronic technologies, portable consumerelectronic devices are more popular and desired by people. A portableconsumer electronic device, such as a wireless communication device,generally includes a vibration motor sued for generating tactilefeedback.

Typically, flat linear vibration motors are commonly used. A flat linearvibration motor includes an elastic member, a vibration unit suspendedby the elastic member, and a housing for accommodating the elasticmember and the vibration unit therein. The elastic member is generallywelded to the vibration unit. Due to the elastic member, the vibrationunit moves not only along a horizontal direction, but also along avertical direction. Normally, the vibration only along one direction isdesired. Vibrations along two directions will accelerate the elasticfatigue of the elastic member, which will finally affect badly theperformance of the vibration motor.

For this reason, it is necessary to provide a novel vibration motor toovercome the shortcomings above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawing are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover,in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric and exploded view of a vibration motor inaccordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the vibration motor in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of a vibration unit and a positioningguiding member of the vibration unit in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of a vibration unit and a positioningguiding member of a vibration unit in accordance with a second exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of a vibration unit and a positioningguiding member of a vibration unit in accordance with a third exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of a vibration unit and a positioningguiding member of a vibration unit in accordance with a fourth exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a vibration motor in accordance with afifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 an assembled view of a vibration unit and a positioning guidingmember of the vibration unit in the fifth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of Part A in FIG. 7 taken along lineA-A.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of Part B in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described in detail below with referenceto the attached drawings and exemplary embodiments thereof.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a vibration motor in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present disclosure includes a fixed member 11, a pairof elastic members 12, a vibration unit 13, and a positioning guidingmember 14. The fixed member 11 includes a receiving space foraccommodating the elastic members 12, the vibration unit 13 and thepositioning guiding member 14. The elastic member 12 has an endconnecting to the fixed member 11 and another end connecting thevibration unit 13 for suspending the vibration unit 12 in the receivingspace.

The fixed member 11 includes a housing 111 and a coil 112 assembled withthe housing 111. The housing 111 further comprises an upper cover 1111and a base 1112 cooperatively forming the receiving space with the uppercover 1111. The base 1112 has a bottom wall 1113. A surface of the uppercover 1111 opposed to the bottom wall 1113 of the base is used forassembling the coil 112. The coil 112 defines a passage for letting thevibration unit go through. Another word, the coil 112 surrounds thevibration unit 12 and provides a space for the vibration unit to gothrough.

It is optional that the amount of the elastic members 12 is two, and theelastic members connect to two ends of the vibration unit 13. Thevibration unit 13 includes a weight 131, a magnet 132 and a magneticyoke 133. The weight 131 is arranged at two ends of the vibration unit13. The magnet 132 includes several units attached with the magneticyoke 133. The magnet 132 is sandwiched by the weight 131.

Also referring to FIG. 3, the weight 131 includes a first weight 1311and a second weight 1312. The first and second weights 1311, 1312respectively serve as two ends of the vibration unit 13.

The positioning guiding member 14 includes a weight guiding rail 141, abase guiding rail 142 and a rolling member 143. The weight guiding rail141 is embedded in the first weight 1311 and faces the bottom wall 1113.The base guiding rail 142 is arranged at the bottom wall 1113 and facesthe weight guiding rail 141. The weight guiding rail 141 and the baseguiding rail 142 cooperatively form a movement rail. The rolling members143 are disposed in the movement rail. Optionally, the rolling members143 could be balls or cylinders.

In this embodiment, the weight guiding rail 141 and the base guidingrail 142 form two parallel movement rails, a first movement rail and asecond movement rail. The first movement rail engages with one rollingmember 143, and the second movement rail engages with two rollingmembers 143.

The first weight further includes a magnetic body 1313 located betweentwo movement rails. The bottom wall 1113 is made of magnetic conductionmaterial. Thus, attractive force between the magnetic body 1313 and thebottom wall 1113 enables the constant contact between the weight guidingrail 141 or the base guiding rail 142 and the rolling members 143.

Embodiment 2

Referring to FIG. 4, a vibration motor in accordance with a secondexemplary embodiment is disclosed. The vibration motor includes a firstweight 2311 and a second weight 2312. Each of the first and secondweights 2311, 2312 is embedded with a magnetic body 2313. Further, eachof the first and second weights 2311, 2312 provides a weight guidingrail including a first weight guiding rail 2411 and a second weightguiding rail 2412. Correspondingly, the base guiding rail includes afirst base guiding rail and a second base guiding rail. The first weightguiding rail 2411 and the first base guiding rail form two parallelmovement rails. And the second weight guiding rail 2412 and the secondbase guiding rail form two parallel movement rails. The two rails formedby the first weight guiding rail 2411 and the first base guiding railare symmetrical to each other about the magnetic body 2313 embedded inthe first weight 2311. At the same time, the two rails formed by thesecond weight guiding rail 2412 and the second base guiding rail aresymmetrical to each other about the magnetic body 2313 embedded in thesecond weight 2312. Each of the movement rails is engaged with a rollingmember 243.

Embodiment 3

Referring to FIG. 5, a vibration motor in accordance with a thirdexemplary embodiment is disclosed. In this embodiment, the vibrationunit 33 and the positioning guiding member 34 are different from thesecond exemplary embodiment. The first weight guiding rail 3411 and thefirst base guiding rail cooperatively form a movement rail engaging witha rolling member 343. The movement rail is located at a middle portionof the first weight 3311. Meanwhile, two magnetic bodies 3313 aredisposed in the first weight 3311. Optionally, the two magnetic bodies3313 are symmetrical to each other about the movement rail. By virtue ofthe configuration mention above, the attractive force between thevibration unit and the bottom wall of the housing.

Embodiment 4

Referring to FIG. 6, a vibration motor in accordance with a fourthembodiment is disclosed. The vibration motor in this embodiment issimilar to the third embodiment, but the vibration unit 43 and thepositioning guiding member 44 are different from embodiment 3. The firstweight guiding rail 4411 and the first base guiding rail cooperativelyform a movement rail which departs from the middle of the first weight4311. The movement rail engages with a rolling member 443. A magneticbody 4313 is embedded in the first weight 4311.

Embodiment 5

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, a vibration motor in accordance with a fifthembodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed. The vibration motorincludes a vibration unit 53 and a positioning guiding member 54. Theweight guiding rail is directly formed on the weight by milling. Thebase guiding rail is formed by stamping. The weight guiding railincludes a first weight guiding rail 541 and a second weight guidingrail 542. In this embodiment, each of the first and second weightguiding rails 541 542, includes two parallel ribs. Taking the firstweight guiding rail 541 as an example, the ribs of the first weightguiding rail include two ribs 5411, 5412. Correspondingly, the baseguiding rail also includes two ribs corresponding to the first weightguiding rail and the second weight guiding rail, respectively. Takingthe base guiding rail 543 corresponding to the first weight guiding rail541 as an example, the ribs of the base guiding rail includes two ribs5431, 5432. The ribs of the base guiding rail abut against the ribs ofthe weight guiding rail for forming the movement rail. The rollingmembers engage with the movement rail. In the embodiment, the baseguiding rail 543 includes a main body connecting with the base, and theribs 5431, 5432 extend from the main body toward the first weight 541. Apart 5433 of the main body located between the ribs 5431, 5432 forms agap between the part 5433 and the base.

Optionally, in all embodiments described above, the vibration unit mayinclude positioning guiding members on surfaces facing the upper coverand the bottom wall of the base. Correspondingly, the upper cover canalso include base guiding rails opposed to the weight.

Optionally, the vibration motor further includes buffing layer locatedbetween the base guiding rail and the bottom wall of the base. Thebuffing layer could buff the assault of the vibration unit.

Optionally, the bottom wall of the base could be provided with amagnetic body to interact with the magnetic body on the weight forenhancing the attractive force.

The vibration motor described above includes a positioning guiding partlocated between the vibration unit and the base for forming a movementrail, by which the vibration of the vibration unit is restricted in onedirection.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present embodiment have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructures and functions of the embodiment, the disclosure isillustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially inmatters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principlesof the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad generalmeaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vibration motor, comprising: a fixed memberincluding a housing having a receiving space and a coil received in thereceiving space and assembled with the housing, the housing including anupper cover and a base having a bottom wall opposed to the upper cover;a vibration unit including a first weight, a second weight, and a magnetsandwiched by the first and second weights; an elastic member having oneend connecting to the housing and another end connecting to thevibration unit for suspending the vibration unit in the receiving space;a positioning guiding member including a first weight guiding railformed on the first weight, a second weight guiding rail formed on thesecond weight, a first base guiding rail formed on the bottom wall andcorresponding to the first weight guiding rail, a second base guidingrail formed on the bottom wall and corresponding to the second weightguiding rail, a first movement rail cooperatively formed by the firstweight guiding rail and the first base guiding rail, a second movementrail cooperatively formed by the second weight guiding rail and thesecond base guiding rail, and a plurality of rolling membersaccommodated in the first movement rail and the second movement rail. 2.The vibration motor as described in claim 1, wherein each of the firstweight and the second weight includes a magnetic body facing the bottomwall of the base, and the bottom wall is made of magnetic conductionmaterial for generating attractive force for providing constant contactbetween the rolling members and the movement rails.
 3. The vibrationmotor as described in claim 2, wherein the first weight guiding rail andthe first base guiding rail form two parallel first movement railsdisposed at two sides of the magnetic body in the first weight, and thesecond weight guiding rail and the second base guiding rail form twoparallel two movement rails disposed at two sides of the magnetic bodyin the second weight.
 4. The vibration motor as described in claim 2,wherein the bottom wall also includes magnetic bodies corresponding tothe magnetic bodies in the first and second weights.
 5. The vibrationmotor as described in claim 1, wherein the first weight guiding rail andthe second weight guiding rail are also provided on the first and secondweights facing the upper cover, and correspondingly, the first baseguiding rail and the second base guiding rail are also provided on theupper cover.
 6. The vibration motor as described in claim 5, whereineach of the first weight and the second weight includes a magnetic bodyfacing the upper cover, and the upper cover is made of magneticconduction material for generating attractive force for providingconstant contact between the rolling members and the movement rails. 7.The vibration motor as described in claim 6, wherein the upper coveralso includes magnetic bodies corresponding to the magnetic bodies inthe first and second weights.
 8. The vibration motor as described inclaim 1 further including a buffing layer located between the first andsecond base guiding rails and the base.